UPDATED STORY: Tractor driver dies of injuries
TOWNSEND, DELAWARE (10/12/2015) A man on a motorcycle was killed and a farm tractor driver severely burned when their vehicles collided this afternoon on Route 9 east of Townsend, authorities said.
The accident happened about 3:20 p.m. in the 600 block of Taylors Bridge Road (Route 9), north of Union Church Road.
The man killed was identified as Timothy V. Giffing, 33, of Wilmington.
Both vehicles broke in half, and the tractor burst into flames with the driver still on it.
Delaware State Police gave this account:
Giffing “was operating a 2006 Suzuki GSX-R1000 motorcycle, southbound on Taylors Bridge Road south of Fieldsboro Road and north of Union Church Road with three other motorcycles.
“He was traveling with a motorcyclist to his right and two motorcyclists directly behind him when a farm tractor operated by Wills Passmore, 88, of Townsend, exited his driveway on the west side of the road and crossed the southbound lane and into the northbound lane of Taylors Bridge Road.
“The motorcycle traveling at an unknown rate of speed for unknown reasons entered into the northbound lane and began to skid towards the farm tractor. The front of the motorcycle collided with the left side of the tractor.”
Police said Giffing was ejected from the motorcycle and came to rest about 100 feet south of impact on the east side of the road. The motorcycle’s gas tank ruptured and set the tractor and Passmore on fire.
Giffing was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he wasn’t wearing an approved helmet.
Passmore was initially taken by state police helicopter to Christiana Hospital in Stanton and later transferred to Crozer Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania. Cpl. Abigail Haas of New Castle County paramedics said he was in critical condition.
Odessa firefighters also responded.
DelDOT directed traffic around the area, which remained closed about 4 hours as state police investigated and the wreckage was cleared.
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